Richmond dispatch. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1884-1903, 1887-09-23

ing in regular order to the highest ani-
mali. e., man. What privilege for
eager students Of biology or for iuye-
nile classes with their instructors to
enter freely, again and again, this no.
BILE "Synoptic Room" In the Metro
politan Museum of New York and in
the Smithsonian Institution pains are
also taken to render the grand collec-
tion accessible and available for the in-
struction of visiting classes by their
teachers. Elementary knowledge OF
natural history is easily within reach of
pupils ten or twelve years old, or even
younger pupils where they can behold
the actual objects; and it is
worth considering whether element
airy botany and zoology ought
not to be much studied by
such children, especially those who can
occasionally visit museum, instead OF
| pushing them into English syntax,
which scarcely any child of twelve can
really understand, or into mathematical
studies, for which only few are at that
age prepared. Perhaps it will not be
many years before various classes from
private and public schools in Richmond
and vicinity will be repeatedly seeking
access to the collections that shall here
be formed. At any rate the college
students and all adult minds disposed
to inquire into geology aud biology
will find such collection not only help
| full but necessary.
| COLLECTION OF ANTIQUITIES.
The other way in which a museum
furnishes material for education is by
the collection of antiquities. There is
perhaps no department of knowledge
IN which object-lessons are of 6 eater
value. The implements of ancient
warfare, the utensils and ornaments of
ancient life, the shrunken features of
some mummied Egyptian, will give
wings to historical imagination, and in
moment transport the student into
the very midst of ancient life. Nor is
our comparatively new country without
its objects of antiquarian interest. That
relics of the Indians and of the
mound-tuilding race in this cOun-
try may form an extremely in
teresting collection, very stimulating
to historical inquiry and rehec-
tion, may be seen at the home OF
a well-knOwn Richmond gentleman.
There are also many relics of ancestral
history in Virginia and adjacent States
that might be gradually collected, aud
would greatly help in reproducing the
life of the early settlers and the colo
NAL times. Our gifted and lamcnted
romance writer and historian, John
Esten Cooke, appears to have fairly
proven IN his volume entitled Virginia
that the story of Pocahontas sayingthe
life of John Smith must, after all, be
accepted as historical The skeptical
mode of dealing with history which
Niebuhr rendered fashionable has led
to much valuable research, but has
gone to greater extremes, and the
inevitable reaction is already visible in
many directions. No part OF American
colonial history is so thoroughly
romantic as that Of the Old Dominion !;
and much remains to be done in col
lecting it's antiquities and digesting its
documents and traditions. In like
manner there must be many memorials
Of Virginia's share in the Revolution,
and of her great series of Presidents
and other statesmen, that ought to be
collected into q museum Mt the State
Capitol. And there is another great
and mighty conflict, in which Virginia
bore an unequalled share of suffering and
was not backward in achievement, which
already for the rising generation is Il
thing of the past, and whose precious
and often perishable relics ought to be
rapidly gathered. The conflict is over,
its animosities have been quite laid
aside, and we are contented and patri-
Otic citizens of the United States but
the relics of that great civil war are
sacred for us and for our children, and
its heroes, its splendid heroes. shall be
famous for ever.
We greatly need in this still new
country to cultivate the historical
spirit--to cherish glowing love of the
past and TO this end antiquarian col
lections are of real importance.
ART IN HIGHER EDUCATION.
But, he said, this room is opened
both as a museum and an art hall, and
he proceeded to discuss very ably the
educational value of art, art studies,
and fine specimens of art, and then
said Now, what part have such col
lections Of art in the work of higher
education? We need not dwell upon
the fact that at least O few stu
dents of every session will be
naturally capable of artistic crea-
ton, and upon them these collec-
tions and instructions will exert the
most delightful and inspiring influence.
You will never know, as you casually
enter such a hall, but that one of the
quiet youths who perhaps make way for
the visitor and retire, or perhaps re-
main in absorbed contemplation, may
be Just now receiving impulses that will
J carry him in coming years to high ar
tistic achievements and fame. Let no
one think lightly of these few. Some of
the older States of our Union would
have been able to retain during the last
two or three generations many choice
young men who have gone West il the
| COutioiilnB puDliC opihlOh h@u hi'iS
strongly favored the developmentamong
themselves of the industrial arts and
the fine arts and Of the artistic in lite
nature, and all the complex pursuits
and products of high and complete
civilization. But q point Of more gene
raj interest would be the educational
effects OF art collections upon the stu
dents at large. Nearly forty years ago
young Virginian who had never be-
fore been out Of the State, went TO
spend some days in Philadelphia, and
twice gave several hours to the old
Academy Of Art, especially to the
paintings of Benjamin West and to
plaster casts of the most celebrated
Greek statues. 1t was a revelation it
opened up a new world, and invested
life with new possibilities of delight.
Such single and powerful impressions
are more distinctly remembered, but
unspeakably greater in educational
value is the opportunity Of frequent
and leisurely observation of such in
spring objects. Familiarity never
breeds contempt where the object is
one of elevated character and interest,
and where the soul is at all susceptible,
but the frequent contemplation be-
comes an eyer-growing educational
force, shaping the intellect, coloring
the Imagination, stirring the deepest,
sweetest emotions. Happy those